Saturday, December 4, 2010

A new venture

Trio
Lithograph
2010

Red Fins
Lithograph
2010

My newest venture is in printmaking, specifically lithography. Printmaking is a great way to expand on drawing techniques. To make a lithograph, you draw on a specially prepared aluminum plate or limestone. Then you process it with gum arabic and other chemicals. Next you roll it up with ink and print it on a large press. Anyone who's done lithography knows it's HARD work! But it's also fun and exciting when you get a great print. I love the whole process aspect of printmaking and the physical connection to the materials. Many artists I admire have made lithographs from Goya to Fantin-Latour to George Bellows and Grant Wood.

The prints above were inspired by animals which I saw this summer. Trio is a compliation of chickens I encountered in the Romanian countryside. Red Fins are two beautiful lake perch I caught while fishing in New Jersey.